Tire inflating device



Nov. 19, 1935.

W. N. SMITH TIRE INFLATING- DEVICE Filed Aug. 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l y @gam/wwwa,

INVENTOR @E TTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1935. w. N. SMITH TIRE INFLATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 19, 1932 2`Sheets-Shem:V 2

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BY WA/MW ATTORNEYS Y ril Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to devices for inflating automobiletires and the like and embodies, more specically, an improved tire inating mechanism which is adapted to be actuated automatically by motion oi the vehicle. The present invention constitutes an improvement over the form of the invention shown and described in applicants co-pending application Serial No. 610,539 led May 1l, 1932 for Automatic tire iniiating device, and provides an effective mechanism for in ating vehicle tires during the rotation thereof, the mechanism being so constructed as to cause both the centrifugal force produced during rotation of the Vehicle wheel,

and the air pressure produced within the air tight and weatherproof housing of the device, lthrough the movement of the bellows, to assist in the inflating operation.

An object of the invention, accordingly, is to provide an improved and simplied mechanism for inflating tires: automatically upon rotation thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for the operation of an inilating device, the mechanism being so construct- 'ed as to allow the device to operate with the vehicle wheels moving either in forward or backward direction, without damage, and to provide for the use of the same device at all wheels (right and left hand side) of the vehicle without change in the construction of the mechanism and also to provide slow operation of the bellows, and the maximum power necessary for the compression of the air in the bello-Ws with a minimum of pressure at the power source.

Further objects, not specifically enumerated above, will'be apparent as the invention is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in section, taken on line l'-l of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 2 is a view in section, taken on the broken line 2-2 of Figure 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a View in section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a view in section, taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a view in section, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Referring to the above drawings, a vehicle wheel is shown at l which has mounted thereon the usual brake drum Il of usual construction. The usual relatively stationary dust cover 12 is shown, upon which an adjustable strike I`3 is mounted. This structure is in accordance with Al the structure shown in applicants co-pending application above noted and need not be described `in further detail herein. An air tight housing 2l and 2l which encloses the mechanism of the inlating device is shown mounted upon the brake drum Il. The valve stern of a tire is illustrated at lil and is connected to an air conduit I 5 which receives air from pumping mechanism `shown in detail in Figure l.

With reference to Figure 1, the iitting to which air `conduit l5 is connected through |51 is illustrated at It and communicates, through oppositely extending air pipes il, with air ducts I8 which communicate with the interior of collapsible bellows I3. lThese bellows are mounted upon plates 23 which are suitably fastened to the air tight housing 2l which, in turn, is secured to the bottom plate of the housing 211 by bolts 2i4 through bolting angle 212, the connection being made air tight by basket 2I3, the en- 25 tire housing being secured to the brake drum Il by means of bolts 22.

Air displacement cones 23 are mounted within each bellows, the left hand bellows of Figure 1 illustrating one form of. the 'invention wherein 30 the displacement cone is mounted directly upon the plate 2! while the right hand bellows of Figure l illustrates the displacement cone as being mounted upon a pivoted'plate 24. In the event that the displacement cones are mounted upon 35 plate 20, a tting 25 is provided to afford communication between ducts i3 and the interior of the bellows.

In order that the, bellows may be expanded for the iilling of the bellows with outside air and 40 collapsed to produce air under pressure eifectively, plates Ztl are secured thereto which slide between guide tracks 261 secured to housing 2l the plates 24 being pivoted at 25 upon arms 2l which are secured to plate 2i). Elongated recesses 45 formed by channels 28 are provided on the backs of plates 24 and a rod 29 is received in these recesses and journaled at 30 upon a rotatable disk 3|. It will thus be 'seen that, as disk 3l is rotated, the rod 29 wiH cause the collapsing 50 and expanding of the bellows I9.

Rotation of disk 3l is effected by means of a driving gear 32 which engages a driven pinion 33 upon the shaft 34 of which a worm 35 is formed. Worm 35 engages a worm wheel 36 55 upon a shaft 31 to which disk 3| is secured. An idler pinion 38 is provided to equalize the thrust upon gear 32, the idler pinion being journaled upon shaft 34. l

Gear 32 is driven by means of a shaft 39 which is hollovved out to receive connection bolt 351,V

the shaft 33 together with connection bolt 391 being actuated by arms it which are adapted to engage the strike i3. Shaft 39 drives gear 32 through a suitable detachable connection 4l, the detachable connection il being held to shaft 33 bya screw end on connection bolt 391, and theY and a clutchY member d3 which is slidableV axially Y of shaft 39 but is prevented from rotation with respect thereto by means of'ribs i4 which engage recesses i5 in the member G3. A spring 35 normally urges the member 53 against the member 42 and is seated against a slidable non-revolving disk il which engages a sealing member .43

and thus effectively seals the bearingV of shaft 39 in the housing 49. In order that the driving mechanism mayb eectively lubricated, the gears and shafts are enclosed Within a fluid tight housing 5%, sealing disks 5i and 52 being provided at the points where shafts enter orY leave the housing. yAir conduits il Ycommunicate with a fitting 53 which is formed with a T-shaped duct 54, the

ends of which communicate with air conduit i5 and air inlet valve 55 and safety air escape (blow olf) valve 551. This enables outside air to be drawn into the bellows through air inlet valve 55, excess air pressure to escape through safety air escape valve 551 and air' to flow to the tire through conduit l5. Valves 55 and 551 are connected to pipes 53 and 5F51 which are secured to an apertured sleeve 57 by means of Which' outside air may be drawn into the pipe 56 and air may escape to outer air through pipe 561. A cylindrical screen member 58 is provided with turned back ends 59 and radial and axial ducts 6d and Si, respectively, are formedin the member 5l through which Yair may pass. The construction of air inlet valve 55 and safety air escape valve 551'is in accordance with the construction shown in applicants co-pending application referred to hereinabove. Y

VAnti-distortion rings 52 are provided in the bends of the bellows and formed with extensions 63 through which guides 54 extend. The motion of the bellows is thus effectively controlled and therein. At left hand bellows of Figure l stiff- -ener or reinforcing plates 551 and 552 are shown at the folds of the bellows` to provide greater strength at bellows Vwhich contain high air pressures. i V

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that an inflating device has been provided for vehicle tires, the device functioning effectivelyV to 5 automatically pump compressed air, through a discharge tube, into apneumatic tire, in sufficient quantity, and at a regulated pressure sufficient to maintain the proper required air pressure at the tire, but so as not to allow an'excess in 10 quantity or pressure of air to enter the tire.V The number of driving parts is few and their construction such that Vthedevice may function with a minimum of moving parts, requiring infrequent lubrication, such parts being enclosed Y15 in an air tight housing for protection from damage and the elements, and the'construction of the mechanism being such as to utilize both the centrifugal force generated during the rotation of the device and the air pressure generated by 20 the action of the bellows within the air tight housing to assist the pumping'action of the bellows. The construction of the entire device is such that the weights of all mechanism housing member, means operated by rotation Vof the35 Wheel to rotate the member, means operated by the member to actuate the pumping mechanism, a housing, a cover for the housing, an operating shaft journaled in the cove'iga sealingwasher within the cover, a clutch to maintain the shaft 40 in predetermined positions, and a spring between the clutch Vand Washer. Y

2. An inating device for a vehicle tire comprising a pumping mechanism, means to mount the mechanism upon a vehicle wheel, a rotatable member, means operated by rotation of the wheel to rotate the member, means operated by the member to actuate the pumping mechanism, an operating shaft for transmitting forces between the rotatable member and the means to rotate I the same, and a yielding clutch to maintain theV shaft in predetermined positions. 3. An inlating device for a vehicle tire comprising a pumping mechanism, means to mount v the mechanism uponra vehicle wheel, a rotatable member, means operated by rotation of the Wheel to rotate theV member,` means operated by the member to actuate the pumping mechanism, and a yielding clutch to maintain the member in predetermined positions.

WILLIAM NEIL 

